Wichita eagle., 1887-08-30

rather than advance the material progress
and prosperity of the people and the social
relations of the communities.
CAUSE OF DROUTH AND CYCLONES.
Mr. Thomas E. Hill, vice president of
the Illinois Humane Society, contributed
to the National Builder the following in
teresting article, contains many valuable
ideas and suggestions which though appar-
emily logical are over drawn and not
borne out by facts recently demonstrated
notably the matter of the drouth in this
country. The sections most seriously
4, effected by the drouth were the lake re-
giors Of Illinois, Indiana. Michigan and
Minnesota. However, there are sugges'
h1ons in the article worthy of consideration
and which might be acted upon by in
dividuals and communities with great
profit. Mr.. Hill says;
During a recent journey to Europe the
passage across the ocean was especially IN
pleasant because of fogs, the only cOnsola-
ton in contemplating them being that they
repr esented the work of nature in drawing
moisture from the water, which, waited
inland, fell upon the soil in refreshing rain,
gathered in the brooks and rivers and flow
ed to the sea, to be again thus sent back to
freshen and brighten the parched earth.
The speed of our vessel was materially
retarded by winds from the west, a COM
mon occurrence In the summer season. The
fogs and moisture through these winds are
driven upon the continent, where drouth
seldom prevails, and particularly do they
| freshen the verdure of Ireland, and hence
the brilliant green of the Emerald Isle.
In rejecting upon this subject, contem-
plated the drouth then prevailing In several
of the western and middle states of the
Union What had they to gather rains
from? Alas, what have they2 For gen
Grafton our farmers have been draining
their lands of moisture They have run
their tileing through every slough. They
have drawn out the water from every
swamp; they have dried up the pond; they
have obliterated the beautiful little lake
In doing this they have made such easy and
rapid egress for rainfall from the soil, as to
endanger the homes and farm lands of all
the great rivers in the southern regions Of
our country, already infiicting great dis
tress, loss of life and property equaling in
value many millions Of dollars-an evil
which Is growing In magnitude each year.
The result of this wholesale draining of
the upper country of water is not only
thus disastrous to life and property along
the larger streams from frequent overflow,
but there is such absolute drainage of
moisture from the earth as to produce
cavora Irouth occopopopioJ INV e,,o, H.,
tense heat and dryness of atmosphere as
results in the hurricane, the cyclone and
innumerable village, prairie and forest
fires
IA the early days when the process of
evaporation of moisture went forward
from the swamps, the ponds and lakes of
our Western and Middle States, an ex-
tended drouth, with extremely intense heat,
was comparatively rare In those days
sunstroke was very uncommon and the
cyclone was comparatively unknown
This year we are In the second season of
drouth in various portions of the country,
while every year brings its devastation
from wind, the result of an excessively dry
and frequently disturbed condition of the
atmosphere.
With the land thus denuded of natural
water supply, there is but one course for
our farmers to pursue 10 save themselves
from these evils. They may drain their
soil, but they should gather the rainfall in
ponds and lakes scattered throughout their
lands Instead of running the drains
through and out of the swamp, they should
lead to an excavation of such size as cir
cumrtances will permit, which should be
made at depth of three or four feet,
where the water can gather and will re-
main throughout the year, quenching the
thirst of animals, giving drink to birds, a
reservoir in case of fire, for fish, spot
Of beauty on which may sail the boat, an
opportunity for the bath and for teaching
the young people to swim. 1t will yield
ice for the family, provide skating for the
happy youth In winter time, and moisture,
which, through evaporation, will pass into
the cloud to be returned again through
rainfall to the needy earth.
No fear need be entertained of staguation
from water thus held In reserve. Fish will
Of themselves purify it. Every rain will
change it, while, If the lake covers an acre
or more in area. the wind will constantly
keep 1t pure. The writer, In proof of this,
has an artificial lake on his farm, the re
suit of dredging swamp. which Is filed
only by rainfall, the water being, in the
dryest season, always perfectly clear and
fresh.
On the low lands the general sbandon-
ment of farms and homes 10 the river
overflow will be the inevitable outcome of
this water wsstage in the high grounds.
Such Is already the fact, while the expend,
iture of many millions of dollars by the
government, In the construction of levees
and entertainments along the great rivers
will be necessary for the protection Of
adjoining property. Vastly better that
this expenditure be made In holding the
water where 1t is required in the up coun-
try.
Dot the farms of our inland states with
ponds and miniature lakes, and while they
will afford health, attraction and pleasure
in thousand ways, they will give us back
the uniform rainfall we had in the early
settlement of the country, when successive
seasons of drouth, forest fires and cyclones
were unknown.